Typewriting machine



. Julyl4, 1936. w. DQBSON I 2,047,551

TYPEWRITING MACHINE Original Filed May 25, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR:

July 14, 1936. w, A DQBSON 2,047,551

TYPEWRITING MACHINE Original Filed May 25, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATT RNEY.

Patented July 14, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TYPEWRITING MACHINE William A. Dobson, Hartford, Conn., assignor to Underwood Elliott Fisher Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware 1 Claim. (01. 248-25) This invention relates to portable typewriting machines, and more particularly to the framework, with the means for mounting the keylevers therein, and to the supporting means of the machine.

The opposite side walls of the inner frame are punched from sheet-steel, which, on account of its thinness, occupies but little room, and the side walls are connected at the rear by a vertical wall also of sheet-steel.

Each side wall is stamped originally in the form of a flat blank, and back ears upon the side walls are bent inwardly, and the ends of the rear sheet-metal wall are fastened to said ears.

The lower edge of the rear wall is bent inwardly and then downwardly to form a flange which is made to do duty for a fulcrum for the type-bar operating key-levers of the typewriter. The notched rear edges of'the key-levers are pressed up against the lower edge of said wall by means of the usual key-lever return springs.

Provision is made for readily attaching any key-lever and for looking all the key-levers against displacement when restored. A locking rod is formed upon the bottom of the key-leverguiding comb, this bar being formed by bending back the lower edge of the vertical plate in which the key-lever-guiding slots are formed. This plate is hinged between the side plates of the frame of the typewriter. The ends of the combplate are bent back upon ears for the hinged pintles. The axes of the pintles are about coincident with the key-lever fulcrums, and the hinged device may be swung down about its axis to disconnect any key-lever by pulling it off its fulcrum and removing it. When all the key-levers are in place, the locking device may swing forwardly beneath the key-levers to lock the same against displacement, and. this locking de vice may be held in normal position by means of a spring or springs and is readily manipulable.

For supporting the machine, there are employed four rubber feet. The two rear feet are fastened up against short flanges or ledges which are bent in from the bottom edges of the side walls. At the front of the frame the arms are bent in on the side flanges, and the bottom portions of these arms are bent forwardly and apertured to receive novel rubber feet.

This application is a division of my application, Serial. No. 454,871, filed May 23, 1930, patented January 22, 1935, No. 1,988,940.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portable typewriting machine constructed according to my invention.

Figure 2 is a partial cross-sectional, front to rear, view of the structure shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an operational view illustrating the removal of a, key-lever.

My invention is illustrated in connection with a portable typewriting machine and a carrying case for the same. Types I0 are mounted on type-bars H, and are swung rearwardly against a platen [2 on a shaft i3, mounted in a carriage (not shown). Each type-bar II is pivoted about a curved fulcrum-rod l4, faston a type-bar segment I5. Each type-bar is connected by a wire link [6 to a rear arm ll of a bell-crank I8, which has a slotted forward arm 20., A pin 2|, fast in the side of a key-lever 22, associated with each bell-crank l8, engages in the slotted arm 20,, and depression of a key 23 on each key-lever 22 swings the associated type l0 against the platen l2.

For guiding the, key-levers 22 at the front in vertical planes, each lever moves up and down in vertical slots of a usual comb 25, which is fastened by screws 26 to inreaching' lugs 21 integral'ly joined to the forward edge of an inner main frame, generally designated as 28. The comb 25 may have a usual lengthwise stiffening rib 29.

The main frame 28 includes side walls or plates, generally designated as 30. Each side wall 30 is made from sheet-metal and has numerous projecting elements, which are bent inwardly, for mounting various parts of the typewriting mechanism.

Each end of a. sheet-steel rear wall 35 of the main frame 28 is fastened by rivets to an inwardly-bent flange-element 36' of the adjacent side wall 39. The upper edge portion of the rear wall 35 is bent rearward and forms a narrow stiffening flange 31.

It is a feature of the present invention to arrange the Wall 35 for serving as a fulcrum for the key-levers 22. To this end, a lower edge portion 35 of the rearwall 35 extends below the flange-elements 36, and is bent forwardly a short distance and then downwardly. Each of the key-levers 22 has an upwardly-flared notch 38 cut in its upper edge, adjacent its rear end. The bottom of each notch 38 is rounded to permit easy rocking of the lever when the bottom of the notch engages against a bottomfulcrum-edge 40-01 the rear wall 35. Return springs 4| for the key-levers 22 are mounted in a way to be presently described, and press each keylever up against the fulcrum-edge 40.

It is another feature of the present invention to provide means for latching the rear end of each key-lever securely in position against the fulcrum-edge 40, which means are operable without removing any screws or other fastening devices, to permit removal of any key-lever such, for example, as might need repairing, and replacing it with another key-lever. To this end, the rear end of each key-lever has a rounded portion 42, as illustrated in Figure 3. A latch-plate 43, disposed in front of the rear wall 35, has a rearwardly-extending flange 44, at each end, which is apertured to be pivoted on an outreaching integral finger on the adjacent end of the rear wall 35. A plurality of vertical slots 46 are provided in the latch-plate 43, one for each key-lever 22, and each slot is made just wide enough to receive its associated key-lever with a working fit. The distance between two slots 46 is the same as the distance between the slots in the comb 25, so that the key-levers are held parallel and spaced equal distances apart. For adjusting the latch-plate 43 laterally, at the factory, so that a slot 46 for a certain key-lever is aligned with the slot in the comb 25 for the same lever, thereby preventing binding, each mounting flange 44 has an inturned spacing flange 41 for engagement against the adjacent side edge of the lower portion of the rear wall 35. The inner edges of the flanges 41 can be quickly adjusted by filing, to position the latch-plate 43 accurately, as regards lateral adjustment of the slots 46. For holding the latch-plate 43 in normal position, an outreaching integral finger 41 is provided on each end, above the pivoted flanges 44, and a tensile spring 48, at each end of the latch-plate, has one end fastened to the adjacent finger 41 and the other end fastened in a hole 49 in the rear wall 35. In the normal position of the latchplate 43, a rearwardly-bent flange on the bottom of the plate engages against the round end 42 of the key-lever 22 a short distance to the rear of the junction of its curved edge and the adjacent straight side of the key-lever.

To operate the latch-plate 43 for removing a key-lever 22, a finger of the mechanic is pressed forwardly against a rearwardly-extending integral flange 5| at the top edge of the latch-plate 43. The flange 50 is swung rearwardly enough to let the desired key-lever be pressed downwardly until the upper parts of the sides of the notches 38 are clear of the lower edge 40 of the rear wall 35, 35 as illustrated in Figure 3. The key-lever 22 can then be pulled ahead lengthwise until it is clear of the comb 25 and thereafter the latch may be released, whereupon the springs 48 will swing it back to normal latching position.

To insert a key-lever 22, the latching plate 43 is swung to the Figure 3 position, and the rear end of the lever is pushed through its associated slot 46, and the latching plate is then released and the power of the springs 48 will swing the bottom of the latching plate forwardly and help to cam the rear end of the lever up against the fulcrum-edge 48. The return spring 4| of the lever also presses the latter upward. It will be noted that when removing one key-lever and inserting another, the latch-plate 43 co-operating with the springs 4| and the comb 25 is effective to hold the other levers 22 in position without danger of them falling out of place, since the other levers still engage in the guide-slots 46.

It will also be noticed that when the latch-plate 43 is swung to the Figure 3 position, it still controls the rear end of a key-lever being pressed downwardly for removal until the lever is pulled ahead. 7

The rear wall 35 of the inner frame is close to the rear wall I24 of the outer frame |2|J. The wall 35 is bent forwardly and then downwardly at its lower portion 65 to form an offset stiffening flange, the bottom edge of the flange constituting a fulcrum, up against which the springs 4| hold the notched key-levers, the rear ends of the key-levers being concealed by said rear outer wall I24, which extends below the level of the key-levers. The latchingplate or cage 43 includes at its bottom a transverse bar 58, which underlies the levers to lock them against downward displacement as at 42. The cage is hinged at its ends 44 to swivel in a manner seen at Figure 3, to carry the rocking bar 50 rearwardly, and thereby free the levers, so that they may be Withdrawn one by one. The spring 48 holds the cage in normal lever-locking position.

Certain usual stiff members of the operating mechanism of the typewriting machine are mounted between the thin sheet-metal side walls 30, so as to laterally brace and stiffen the latter. To this end, a usual cross-bar for mounting the bell-cranks |8 having a substantially rectangular cross-section and end portions 55 of reduced thickness is fastened between the side walls 30 by riveting each end portion to the underside of an inreaching integral mounting lug 51 of the adjacent side walls.

A lengthwise slot 58 is cut in the forward side of the bar 55. A plurality of crosswise slots 59 are cut through the bar 55 at the forward side of the same, one slot for each bell-crank 8 which is received with a sliding fit. The rear ends of each slot 59 slope upwardly and rearwardly, as shown in Figure 2. The depth of the slot 58 is such that a usual bell-crank fulcrum-rod 5| disposed against the bottom of the slot and engaging through usual pivot-holes provided in each bell-crank l8 normally supports the latter in Figure 2 position, wherein each rear arm I! is disposed adjacent the bottom wall of each slot 59. The pins 2| in the key-levers 22 engage in the slotted arms 2|] and hold the bell-cranks IS in position in the slots 59, and also hold the fulcrumrod 6| against the rear end of the slot 58.

To further brace the side walls 38, a segmentbracket member in the form of a stiff strong cross-bar, generally designated as 65, has a middle portion 66 to which the segment is rigidly fastened by screws 61 after the bar has been finished to size. From each side of the middle portion 66, the cross-bar 65 extends outwardly and forwardly to within a short distance of the side walls 30. It then turns at right angles to the side walls 30 and extends thereagainst, and then turns again at right angles and terminates in two pad or foot elements 58 which engage against, and are suitably fastened to, the side walls 30 adjacent their top edges.

The return springs 4| of the key-levers 22 are mounted on a channel-bar l5 transversely disposed to the key-levers below the same. The channel-bar is fastened at its ends 8| on the main frame 28 by screws 18, which fasten the usual rear rubber shoes 16 against the lower face of inreaching flanges 89 of the side walls.

The upper threaded end of each screw '18 is screwed into the foremost hole in the adjacent end portion 8| and serves a double purpose by main frame, 28 to the baseboard 11, which will fastening the associated shoe 16 to the flange 89, and also helping to secure the channel-bar :15 to. the flange 89.. Additional screws 82 engage through holes in the flanges and are threaded in concentric holes in the end portions BI and help fasten the channel-bar 15 between the side walls 39.

The usual front cover-plate 84 is fastened to the side walls 39 by screws 86 which are threaded into lugs 81 of the side walls 39. Thecover-plate also has a forwardly-extending flange-element 88 which may act as a stop for a returning keylever 22.

The provision of improved means for releasably fastening the innermain frame 28 to the baseboard 11 is a feature of the present invention. For fastening the frame 28 at each front corner to the baseboard 11, a fastening lug 99 is integrally joined to each side wall 39 at its forward end, and is disposed in front of the main frame 28. A relatively large round hole 9I is provided in each mount or lug 99 for receiving with a snug fit a reduced neck-portion 92 of a round rubber foot or shoe 93, the rim-portion of the lug 99 around the hole 9| being seated flatly on a shoulder 94 of the shoe. A rubber sound-deadening washer rests on top of the rim-portion of each lug 99 and the neck 92 of the foot 93 may extend into said sound-deadening washer. Provision of the washers 95 produces advantages which will presently be described. A metallic or rigid holddown washer 96 rests on each sound-deadening washer 95 and overlaps the rim of the hole 9| in the lug 90. A shoulder-screw 91 passes through concentric round holes in each shoe 93, rubber washer 95 and metallic washer 96, and is threaded in a thimble-member 98 seated in the baseboard 11, and fastens the front of the main frame to the baseboard 11.

Should a severe strain come on the heads of the screws 91 in a direction away from the baseboard 11, there would be danger of pulling the thimbles through the wooden baseboard, since the latter is made relatively thin for sake of lightness in weight. To relieve said strains, a compression spring I99 is disposed between the head of each screw 91 and its associated rigid washer 96; said spring I99 and rigid washer 96 co-operating to clip the sound-deadening washer against the lug 99. To prevent a screw 91 from being threaded into its thimble 98 so far that the associated spring I 99 is closed and its shock-absorbing ability is thereby destroyed, a truncated conical washer I9I is provided under each rubber shoe 93 for engaging the shoulder of the screw 91 and limiting the amount of compression of the spring I99. Each shoe 93 will be recessed in its lower side for engaging snugly around the conical washer IN.

The clipping of the rubber washer 95 between the hold-down washer 96 and the metallic foot lug 99 provides a vibration insulating member between the two metallic parts and makes for quieter operation of the machine. The machine itself is also definitely held by means of the spring I99 and washers 95, 99 against the shoulder 94 of the foot 93 to prevent rattling. Conversely, the spring I99 may also act freely as a buffer between the machine and the hold-down screw 91. By making the shoe 93 and washer 95 in two separate parts, a simpler form of the foot 99 and the shoe 93 is provided than was heretofore used. Also the shoe 93 and the foot 99 can be assembled quickly.

Means is provided for fastening the rear of the add to the appearance of the typewriting machine and permit shorteningof the baseboard 11. To this end, an eye-piece or staple I95 is fastened by screws I96 to the baseboard 11, close up against a usualrear rim-element I91 of the same. The screws I96 are threaded into thimble anchorage members I98 set in the under side of the baseboard 1,1. A rubber sheathing member I99 is provided around'the middle portion of the staple I95. A holding or locking piece H9 is fastened by screws III to the rear face of the:

rear-wall 35 adjacent the flange 31 and extends downwardly adjacent the forward edge of the staple I95 and has a bolt-element II2 which projects rearwardly under the rubber sheathing member I99, being disposed tightly thereagainst. To release the locking piece H9 from the staple I95, the shoulder-screws 91 are first removed, and the forward end of the main frame is slightly raised and moved forward.

Improved means is provided for releasably fastening an outer ornamental cover-frame I29 to the inner main frame 28 wherein a minimum of screws is used and wherein such screws as are required are made of steel and are threaded in steel members of the inner frame. These fastening means include a stud I2I having an annular collar or bead I22 intermediate its ends. One end of the stud or dowel extends outwardly and fits removably in a hole provided in the usual integral pad I23 on a rear wall I24 of the outer frame I29, and the other end of the stud engages in the hole extending through the locking piece I I9 and the rear wall 35 of the inner main frame 28, which last-named hole registers with the hole in the pad I23.

For fastening the sides of the outer frame I29 to the side walls 39, usual integral inreaching lugs I25 on the bottom edges of the side walls I26 of the outer frame I29 are fastened to integral inwardly-bent lugs I21 of the side walls 39 by upreaching steel screws I28 which pass through holes in the lugs I25 and are threaded in tapped holes in the lugs I21.

The dowel-pin I2I co-operates with the two side screws I28, to fasten the inner frame to the outer frame, thus making a three-point fastening. The dowel-pin passes through the hole in the rear wall, and when the screws are fastened at I25, the frames become rigidly locked together to form a unit. When it is desired to take 01f the outer frame, the screws I 28 are removed, and then the inner frame is pulled forwardly within the outer frame until the dowel-pin I 2| comes out of the hole.

The machine is held to the baseboard 11 by fastening means 91, 98, at the sides of the machine at its front portion, and also by a third member which is at the middle at the rear of the machine, and is in the nature of a transverse staple I95, which, at its ends, is fastened downwardly at the baseboard, and. a hook is fast to the framework at the rear, and has a downwardly-extending shank II9, which terminates in a tongue I I2, catching under the staple I95 to a tooth below the framework, the front fastening means 91 being detachable to permit the machine to slide forwardly to withdraw the tongue from the staple. The front .end of the machine is tipped up a little preparatory to withdrawing the tongue from the staple, so as to clear the rubber feet from the depressions in the baseboard. A length of soft rubber I99 is fitted upon the staple to contact with the tongue I I2, thus providing a sound insulation between the typewriting machine and the baseboard.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

In a. typing machine having aframe, the combination with a perforated mount fastened upon said frame, and a baseboard, of a resilient cushioning and sound-deadening foot resting on said baseboard, said mount resting on said foot, and non-resonant machine-hold-down means including a rigid hold-down washer, a stud passing through said washer, through a perforation in said mount, and through a perforation in said foot for attachment to the baseboard, said stud carrying a spring to resiliently hold down said washer, the latter overlapping the rim of the perforation in said mount, and an underlying washer of resilientv and sound-deadening cushioning material independent of said foot, clipped by said hold-down washer and spring to the rim of said perforation in said mount, one of said resilient cushioning and sound-deadening parts having a reduced neck engaging the perforation of the mount to act as a sound-deadening bushing between said mount and the portion of the stud passing therethrough. 

